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Sky and BBC to provide TV, radio and digital coverage of The Open from 2017

Tuesday 3 February 2015

The UK and Ireland's leading sports broadcaster, Sky Sports, will provide all four days exclusively live

The BBC, the UK's widest reaching free-to-air broadcaster will offer two-hour daily highlights in prime-time and live coverage on radio

The two largest sport websites in the country will provide extensive digital coverage

The agreement will allow The R&A to increase significantly funding and promotion of golf development initiatives in the UK and Ireland

The Open

The R&A today announced new five-year broadcast agreements with the UK's two largest sports broadcasters, running from 2017 - 2021. The Open will, for the first time, be shown live on Sky Sports with prime-time television highlights and live radio coverage delivered by the BBC.

Both broadcasters will provide extensive coverage of the event through their digital channels ensuring golf fans throughout the UK will have numerous ways to enjoy golf's oldest and most international championship.

Golf fans who do not subscribe to Sky Sports will be able to watch live coverage of The Open through NOW TV with weekly and individual daily subscriptions available and no contract required.

The new five-year agreement with both broadcasters, which commences at the 146th Open Championship, being played at Royal Birkdale from 16 - 23 July 2017, will also allow The R&A, golf's governing body, to provide significantly increased financial support to golf participation initiatives in the UK and Ireland. Both the BBC and Sky are committed to supporting The R&A's efforts to promote participation in the sport through their Get Inspired and Sky Academy initiatives. Additionally, The R&A will undertake a comprehensive strategic review on the subject of golf participation in the UK and Ireland and will ensure that golf feels the full benefit of the enhanced resources available.

Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, "We believe this is the best result for The Open and for golf. The way people consume live sport is changing significantly and this new agreement ensures fans have a range of options for enjoying the Championship on television, on radio and through digital channels. Sky Sports has an excellent track record in covering golf across its platforms and has become the home of live golf coverage over recent years. We are very much looking forward to working with them to develop and enhance the coverage of The Open.

"We have enjoyed a long and successful relationship with the BBC and, although the nature of that relationship is changing from 2017."

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